With years of experience working in professional kitchens behind him, Bob Kramer set out to perfect the culinary world's most important tool—the kitchen knife.

After leaving his job working on the line in a professional kitchen, Bob Kramer traveled the country collecting damaged knives, learning the secrets of knife sharpening and eventually studying Bladesmithing—all in pursuit of perfecting the handmade kitchen knife.

Now one of 120 master Bladesmiths in the U.S., Kramer devotes his life to steel composition and brings his painstakingly crafted knives to the web in two forms: Straight Carbon Steel and Damascus (pattern welded steel). Through a combination of time-tested craftsmanship and modern artistry, Kramer creates blades with beautiful, one-of-a-kind patterns mounted on cocobolo hardwood. Knives are available in a more hefty, Euro style or Japanese influenced Meiji design.

Kramer has partnered with Shun on a line of knives that are available at kitchen stores like Sur la Table for around $100-$400, but to get your hands on the real deal, you must get enter a lottery, bid on one of his auctions or place a timely custom order through his website. The wait for a Bob Kramer original will undoubtedly be worth it, especially if you can be patient enough and afford the hefty price tag.